Bill Katz

Bill Katz, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, received his Masters degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY, Potsdam, New York, and did further studies in Music Education at the University of Arizona.  He has been Coordinator of Instrumental Jazz Education for the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) for the past fourteen years. He conducts Adjudicator Seminars and is responsible for the certification of NYSSMA Jazz Adjudicators.  He has also introduced a graded listing of Jazz solos for the NYSSMA Manual. 

Mr. Katz has been Guest Conductor for All-State, Area All-State, All-County and Honors Jazz Ensembles throughout the eastern United States. He was saxophonist with the New York Jets Jazz Ensemble, which gave concerts at Shea Stadium and other venues in New York City and Long Island. Mr. Katz is conductor of the Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts Jazz Ensemble, a select group of some of the most talented high school musicians in the New York metropolitan area. Guest jazz artists Mr. Katz has worked with include Glenn Drewes, Randy Brecker, Frank Foster, Jim Masters, Billy Kerr, Gary Smulyan, Marvin Stamm, Jeff Jarvis, Dave Pietro, Lew Tabackin, John Fedchock, Jim Snidero, Ralph Lalama ,Walt Weiskopf, Joe Magnarelli, Scott Wendholt and Conrad Herwig.

Bill Katz has always divided his musical energies between Jazz and Classical music. He was bassoonist with The Tucson Chamber Players, The Merrick Symphony, The Albert Einstein Orchestra, The Long Island Woodwind Quintet and the Concert Pops of Long Island.

Mr. Katz taught Music Education at Queens College, Molloy College and Hofstra University, giving graduate and undergraduate courses in Instrumental Music Methods. He has also conducted in-service workshops for music teachers in Long Island school districts.  

For many years Bill Katz was chairman of the Music Department and Director of Bands and Jazz Ensembles at East Meadow High School.  The fact that so many of his former students have successful careers in performing and teaching music is a great source of pleasure to him.  Bill Katz is a proud recipient of the NYSSMA Distinguished Service Award.